Connecticut point guard Shabazz Napier is expected to be available for the start of preseason practice despite undergoing surgery Friday to repair a stress fracture in his foot.

A key regular for UConn’s 2011 NCAA champions and a 13-point scorer for last season’s 20-14 team, Napier had the surgery performed to repair the fifth metatarsal on his right foot at John Dempsey Health Center. According to the school’s release, Napier is expected to recover in time for the Oct. 13 start of fall practice.

Napier had been bothered by the injury through most of the summer and left the Puerto Rico national team to rest the foot after making the squad. Surgery was required after less invasive treatments did not produce the required results.

With UConn missing two key players who transferred (Alex Oriakhi and Roscoe Smith) and two more who turned pro (Andre Drummond and Jeremy Lamb), Napier stands as the most essential player for the Huskies entering what could be a challenging 2012-13 season. UConn is banned from postseason play because of NCAA sanctions over the program’s deficient academic performance, but this season could serve as a foundation for a comeback year in 2013-14.